The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground, with its surroundings ... and there is no trouble. This is what we mean by naturalness. ~Shrunyu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Do you have a goal? Guess what, the goal is not as important as something else. That something else is Inspiration or what we call End State Energy. It's how you would be feeling once you have achieved whatever that goal is. In the end… state… energy… is far more important than the actual achieving of any goal. Once you are already experiencing the feelings you would have when you have achieved or reached any goal or objective then the doing, the motivation, becomes easy, almost automatic. And if you are operating from your End State Energy up front you are more likely to find even greater opportunities than you would if you were being narrowly focused or closed off to other, outside input.
It all begins with Inspiration: Taking a deep breath in, followed by a long exhale; letting the exhale be twice as long as the inhale. To re-mind yourself… to shift your attention. Being in the present moment. Asking yourself, "How do you want to be… feeling; living your life the way you want, having made the right decisions, feeling the way you want to be?"
Go ahead and do this with me now… Take in a long… deep… abdominal breath (feeling your stomach push out then filling up your chest). Hold it a moment. As you slowly exhale… letting the exhale be twice as long as the inhale was… silently say to yourself… RELAX…
One more time. Take in a long… deep, breath. Hold it a moment. And as you slowly exhale… say to yourself the word RELAX and just let go. Just imagine this relaxation gently flowing down your body, from your head… alllllll the way down to your feet. Just letting go… of any tension along the way.
Now… just notice how you are feeling… inside. What's that like for you?
Once you have accessed this resourceful state, what we call End State Energy, then ask yourself, "What's the Next Smallest Step I can take that will help me continue to experience and enhance this End State Energy? Or allow me to head in the direction I want to be heading?"
And by the Next Smallest Step, I mean the smallest step you can take where there is absolutely NO resistance to doing it. It may even seem amusing or so small that you can't possibly see how this will help. If that's the case, and there is no resistance to doing it, then you know you have it, you’re on the right track; you know its small enough.
Then take a moment to look around and notice, and hear, and feel what you now are aware of in light of having taken this next smallest step. Notice what's new; what new information do you now have? And if you are still in your End State Energy, go ahead and ask yourself, "What's the next smallest step I can take?"
Continue to be… in the present moment -- in the Now. And only ask yourself the "next smallest step" question when you are in your End State Energy -- feeling resourceful, feeling the way you want to be feeling. This is all part of knowing when to engage and when to observe. Only engage when you are in your End State Energy, when you are feeling resourceful and positive. Just allow yourself to observe and be present with whatever feeling or thoughts you are having when you are not in your End State Energy. You don't want to plant seeds in a field of weeds. To get the best results you want to plant seeds in a field that has rich soil so it can take root and grow to its maximum benefit.
Today is a beautiful day. I wonder how often I can catch myself accessing End State Energy and taking the next smallest step throughout the day?
The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there? ~Jack Kornfield
The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition, and not our circumstances. We carry the seeds of the one or the other about with us in our minds wherever we go. ~Martha Washington
My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds. My harvest will be either flower or weeds. ~Mel Weldon
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,4
The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
